Bolts & Nuts Corp. changed its named and rebranded as Stock’d Supply following several recent acquisitions, investment in technology, and an expanded products and services offering.
“We want our customers to realize that we’re still offering the vendor managed inventory, fastener and solution-centered expertise they know us for, but now we’re offering a lot more,” stated CEO Keith Shope.  “Our growth and expansion of services was such an exciting transition for us, we thought it warranted a new brand.”
Product expansion in recent years includes custom and standard bolting and gasket production for industrial application via the addition of Technical Threads – now a division of Stock’d Supply.
Founded in 1979, Bolts & Nuts originally served markets in and around Chattanooga, TN, where it was founded as a regional fastener distributor supplying business.
Stock’d Supply is a national industrial distributor with facilities in nine states serving manufacturers and OEMs in over 40 states, Mexico and Europe.  Web: StockdSupply.com

 

An organic food company has opened what it says is the world’s largest rooftop greenhouse atop the roofs of Tachen International and Brighton-Best warehouses in Montreal, Canada.
The greenhouse spans 160,000 sq ft – roughly the size of three football fields, PHYS.org reports.
Lufa Farms is growing eggplants and tomatoes to “meet demand for locally sourced foods” in the center of Canada’s second-largest city.
“It is the fourth rooftop greenhouse the company has erected in the city,” according to PHYS.org.
Fully automated, the new greenhouse also has a water system that collects and reuses rainwater, resulting in savings of 90% compared to a traditional farm, PHYS.org reports.
“The advantage of being on a roof is that you recover a lot of energy from the bottom of the building,” allowing considerable savings in heating costs, company spokesman Thibault Sorret told AFP.
Lufa Farms, which employs 500 people, says it’s now able to feed almost 2% of Montreal with its greenhouses and partner farms.
Taiwan-based Brighton-Best has 32 warehouses and offices, including 20 in the U.S. and three in Canada plus Mexico, South America, New Zealand and the UK.  The U.S. headquarters is in Long Beach, CA. Web: BrightonBest.com

 

Bulten hired Emmy Pavlovic to the newly created position of senior VP of Technology and Innovation, effective December 15.
Pavlovic, 40, is an 11-year Nedschroef veteran who most recently worked as a technical account manager at Arcam AB.  She holds a MSc in engineering physics from Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden, and a PhD in materials science from Delft University in The Netherlands.
“We operate in a product focused business and the requirements from the automotive industry as well as other customer segments are changing,” stated CEO Anders Nyström.  “I am very happy that Emmy will join Bulten since she brings a wealth of experience and knowledge in this field.”
Founded in 1873, Sweden-based Bulten supplies fasteners to the international automotive industry, with 1,700 employees in 16 countries.  Web: bulten.com

 

Derek Barnes announced he is starting Cold Forging Solutions to provide consulting services on processes and operator education for fastener manufacturing.
Barnes has experience in production and engineering, progressing from machine setter to global cold forging engineer.  His engineering qualifications include a BTEC and HND in Engineering and a bachelor of science degree.  He holds city and guilds training and development and NVQ Assessors awards.
His experience includes setting, operation and maintenance of single die, double die and multi-station cold formers, as well as thread rolling technologies in the UK and U.S.  Barnes has written and implemented in-house training programs and manuals to develop personnel in setting and operation of cold forging and thread rolling machinery.  He has worked with machine, tooling and wire manufacturers to improve processes.
UK-based Barnes provides support to Confederation of British Metalforming members.  Email: derek.barnes@coldforgingsolutions.com.  Web: thecbm.co.uk


Earnest Machine Products received “NorthCoast 99” honors as a “great place to work” in Northeast Ohio.
“Creating a great work environment for employees is not just about pool tables or bringing dogs to work,” said Elise Bastian, director of culture and talent development at Earnest Machine.  “It’s about cultivating an atmosphere of fairness and respect, and about creating benefits programs that make life better for employees at work and at home.”
In 2019, Bastian implemented a program called “Whole Health—Healthier, Wealthier, Wiser,” providing employees help with physical and mental well-being, personal finances and professional growth.
“During a recent employee engagement survey, employees were asked why Earnest is a unique employer,” said Bastian.  “The most common theme reported was that employees feel like they’re being cared for like family.”
It is the 8th time NorthCoast 99 recognized Earnest Machine as a great workplace.  Web: NorthCoast99.org
Founded in 1948, Earnest Machine is a master distributor with branches in Georgia, Indiana and the UK and is headquartered at 1250 Linda St., Rocky River, OH 44116-1853.  Tel: 800 327-6378  Web: EarnestMachine.com

 

Thomas Walstrum will give the Mid-West Fastener Association an economic update by Zoom on September 24.
Walstrum is a senior business economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.  He is involved in the Chicago Fed Survey of Business Conditions, the Midwest Economy Index, and briefings for the Chicago Fed president on Seventh District economic conditions.  He is a contributing author to the Bank’s Midwest Economy blog and holds a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
The Zoom meeting will be at 4pm CST.  For meeting ID contact MWFA.  Email: mwfa@ameritech.net  Web: mwfa.net

 

Screwfix plans to open 40 stores this year, which will create around 400 jobs, Torque Magazine reports.  Thirty stores will open in the UK by January 2021, creating as many as 300 jobs in retail management, service assistants and supervisor roles, according to Torque.  An additional 10 stores will open in Ireland, adding 160 jobs.

“The growing demand for convenience means we’re opening more stores to help our busy customers get their jobs done,” stated CEO John Mewett.  “We know that time is money for our customers and these new stores in the UK and Republic of Ireland will not only enable us to provide our customers with added convenience and certainty, but also allow us to provide even more job opportunities for local communities when they need it most.”
Screwfix operates 680 stores in the UK and five in Ireland.  Web: Screwfix.com

 

Würth Industry Canada agreed to distribute Sika Canada Inc. specialty chemical products and industrial materials for the construction and industrial markets, including transportation, marine, and energy.  The agreement to distribute Sika’s sealing, bonding, damping, reinforcing and protecting solutions will better serve the needs of Würth Industry Canada’s customers in the commercial transportation and marine market, as well as the general manufacturing market throughout Canada, Würth Industry North America (WINA) stated.
Based in Pointe-Claire, QC, Sika Canada’s product lines include roofing, concrete admixtures, specialty mortars, epoxies, structural strengthening systems, industrial flooring, sealants, adhesives, specialty acoustic and reinforcing materials.
“Würth Industry has a 75-year history of partnering with the top industrial suppliers, and we are thrilled to extend our distribution of Sika products into Canada through a national agreement with Sika Canada Inc., a leader in industrial materials,” stated WINA CEO Dan Hill.
Würth Industry North America is a $1 billion division of the Würth Group with 110 locations providing 420,000 fasteners and C-parts plus services.  Web: WurthIndustry.com